Did The Facts of Life take inspiration from other film plots of the time

[TMC]

I ask this because, the Jo/Blair dynamitic (i.e. a streetwise, tomboyish, tough girl and a prissy, pampered rich girl) on TFOL was in no small part, inspired by the film Little Darlings with Kristy McNichol (the Jo of that film) and Tatum O'Neal (the Blair of that film).

[RetroGuy2000]

Yes, for sure Little Darlings ("the New Girl" script was practically xeroxed from the LD script), but many other films and TV series, as well: "The Little Chill" in some ways follows "The Big Chill" (1983) (at a reunion of schoolmates, the old friends reveal secrets); "Pretty Babies" seems to be a response to "Pretty Baby" (1978), which definitely qualified more as "kiddie porn" than anything in the first season; "From Russia with Love" seems to borrow the title only of a 1963 James Bond film; "The Americanization of Miko" bears a similar title to "The Americanization of Emily", a 1964 film; "The Four Musketeers" is a play on the Three Musketeers of literature, film, and candy; "New York, New York" may reference the Sinatra song; "Dearest Mommie" seems to be a reference to Mommie Dearest, which was a recent film/book at that time; "Store Games" seems to be a title reference to War Games, then a major hit film, and borrows the hacking storyline from that film; "Gone With the Wind" seems to borrow its title from the classic film/book. "Come Back to the Truck Stop, Natalie Green, Natalie Green" borrows from Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean. "Where's Poppa" shares a title with a 1970 film; "Down and Out in Malibu" shares a title similarity with Down and Out in Beverly Hills; "Adventures in Baileysitting" is a play on the 1987 film title Adventures in Babysitting.

This list is nowhere near exhaustive.

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

It's true, the writers have always said the Blair/Jo relationship reflected "Little Darlings"

[rusty spike]

Great list, Retro!

['80sSitcoms]

Yes, and I say all the "mays" and "seems" are definite references to those works.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by rusty spike

Great list, Retro!

Thanks, Rusty! There actually are many more references/call-backs to other films and TV series. I forgot one major one: the Twilight Zone parody in "Seven Little Indians".

I know everyone here can probably list dozens of more film/TV connections that TFOL used.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Yes, and I say all the "mays" and "seems" are definite references to those works.

I haven't seen every film listed above, so in some cases, I had to hedge my bets.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Thanks, Rusty! There actually are many more references/call-backs to other films and TV series. I forgot one major one: the Twilight Zone parody in "Seven Little Indians".

Not to mention its title, an altered version of Agatha Christie's book "Ten Little Indians" which the plot has some similarities with.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I haven't seen every film listed above, so in some cases, I had to hedge my bets.

I'd say they're very safe bets.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Not to mention its title, an altered version of Agatha Christie's book "Ten Little Indians" which the plot has some similarities with.

Ooh, good catch!

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Ooh, good catch!

Although Molly would insist that Ms. Christie and John Boni title them "Ten Little Native Americans" and "Seven Little Native Americans," respectively!

[RetroGuy2000]

[80s Dude]

I wonder if Seven Little Indians came from this Twightlight Zone episode call "The 7th is Made up with Phantoms"?
https://trakt.tv/shows/the-twilight-.../5/episodes/10

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

I wonder if Seven Little Indians came from this Twightlight Zone episode call "The 7th is Made up with Phantoms"?
https://trakt.tv/shows/the-twilight-.../5/episodes/10

The summary says:

Originally Posted by Summary

A modern day National Guard unit find themselves in the middle of Custer's Last Stand at the Battle of Little Big Horn.

...It doesn't feel like a match. It's more likely that, as '80s pointed out, it's based on Agatha Christie's novel, "Ten Little Indians".

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

...It doesn't feel like a match. It's more likely that, as '80s pointed out, it's based on Agatha Christie's novel, "Ten Little Indians".

Yes, it's based on Ms. Christie's book. In that story, characters are picked off one by one, until it's revealed the culprit was one of them who was thought to have been a victim also, but fooled them and got away with the illusion. Just like in the Facts episode.